Final 2025 Release: Trip Overlaps, Messaging, and Destination Partners

This is the final release of 2025, which is pretty exciting.

This sprint was about locking down the foundation I want to hit the ground running with in 2026 - the community layer + shop partnerships. I also cleaned up the structure and info flow for new users (after months of rapid shipping, things were getting a bit disjointed).

If you're new and want the “what is this / what can I do here” flow, start here:
https://divejourney.io/start-here

🚀 What Shipped

• Trip Overlaps are live - see who overlaps your destinations + dates and connect.
• Notifications + realtime buddy messaging are live. This is the backbone for the community loops coming next.
• Trips upgrades: trip admin tools, friend invites, visibility controls, and invite notes (plus mobile UI fixes).
• Dive logs upgrades: edit logs + quick reactions on dive logs.
• Dive Shop Partners is live: Destination Partner Program (featured destination slots) + destination claim flow for shops.
  • Open destinations + apply: https://divejourney.io/dive-shop-partners
  • Dive shop accounts + plans: https://divejourney.io/dive-shop-accounts
• Feature Requests board is live (suggest + vote): https://divejourney.io/feedback
• Homepage + About messaging updates:
  • https://divejourney.io/
  • https://divejourney.io/about
• Favorites + wishlists for destinations and countries

🌍 Community Features

Notifications + realtime buddy messaging

DiveJourney now has a real notification layer so invites, messages, and activity updates don't get lost.

And once you're connected with someone, you can message in realtime to coordinate trips and dives.

Useful links:

• Community view: https://divejourney.io/dashboard/diver/community?tab=community
• Messages: https://divejourney.io/dashboard/diver/messages

Note: you’ll need to send a friend request before you can message another user.

Trips: overlaps, admin, invites, and visibility

Trips are now much more usable for real planning:

• Trip Overlaps: see which users overlap your destination + dates - these overlaps are your potential future dive buddies.
• Admin tools for managing trips and collaboration
• Visibility controls for trips
• Friend invites with invite notes so invites have context
• Better mobile behavior on the trip UI

Plan a trip:
https://divejourney.io/dashboard/diver/trips

💪 Product Features

Dive logs: edit logs + reactions

Logs now support editing and reactions - the logbook is becoming a living layer instead of a static archive.

Start logging:

• Log from the map: https://divejourney.io/dive-map
• Logbook dashboard: https://divejourney.io/dashboard/diver/dive-logs

Reactions are live too - 🐠 ❤️ 📷 👍

Dive Shop Partners: Destination Partner Program (featured destination slots)

I’m launching a partnership program for a limited number of dive shops - one partner slot per destination on DiveJourney.

The goal is to improve listings + data accuracy, and help shops that guide those destinations get properly represented. In return, partner shops get featured placement for that destination.

• One partner shop per destination
• 90 days free of Pro included (no card required)
• Manual review
• Stay live by starting a paid plan before day 90 ends

Open destinations + apply:
https://divejourney.io/dive-shop-partners

Dive shop accounts + plans:
https://divejourney.io/dive-shop-accounts

Feature Requests board (vote on what I build next)

A public board is live so you can:

• Suggest features
• Report bugs
• Upvote what you want to see

Drop requests here:
https://divejourney.io/feedback

🔭 What’s Next

Early 2026 I’m focusing directly on dive shop partnerships and community features, but I’m open to ideas and feedback. The feature requests board is the best way to steer the roadmap.

What I’m considering right now:

• Buddy finder v1 (match suggestions based on profiles and history)
• Richer diver profiles (so buddy connections are more useful)
• Keep expanding destinations and country coverage so the map feels undeniably global
• A mobile app (bigger lift - I want to validate demand first)

Vote here:
https://divejourney.io/feedback

Founder Shiplog #2

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